Jonathan Coleman MP
National Party Broadcasting Spokesman

25 January 2008

What is Labour's plan for Freeview?

The current rate of growth in Freeview uptake means that it will be years before the full switch to digital TV is achieved, says National Party Broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman is commenting after the release of figures that show Freeview has reached 78,700 households, or 5% of all New Zealand homes.

"Freeview has grown month on month, but surely, Trevor Mallard should have checked those numbers before announcing the Government's policy on analogue switch off.

"At the current rate of growth it will be years before full transition to digital television is achieved.

“There are still around 800,000 New Zealand households with neither Freeview nor a digital TV subscriber service.”

Labour has said it will announce an analogue switch off date once 75% of the population have digital TV, or 2012, whichever comes first.

“Mr Mallard has four years to switch 800,000 households to digital. At the current rate of growth in Freeview numbers, he’s going to need something new to accelerate the process, or he’ll have to back-down on the date.

“Which is it?”

ENDS

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